For this Sunday February 24, 2008 being the 3rd Sunday in Lent, the readings are Exodus 17:1-7; Romans 5:1-8 and John 4:5-26 (27-30, 39-42). We will examine as our text for the sermon Romans 5:5, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
It appears that in this cycle of presidential candidates, the word “hope” is used again and again. In fact, is it not a fact that some candidates are defined almost in terms of being a Messiah to bring true hope and happiness to the country? But the government is NOT the church and therefore many of the promises of hope will never be fulfilled to the level of expectation.
But we are Christians who have a hope that does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured in our hearts according to Romans 5:5. Then what happens. Even our hopes are often dashed and unfulfilled. There appears to be only one conclusion to our prayers of hope that are unfulfilled. The love of God may be in us but we appear not to have sufficient love toward God or why else are our hopes unfulfilled?
However, hope is like faith in the sense that both need an object. A friend comes up to you and says, “I believe”. What is your first question? “Believe what?” So also with hope. Hope is not isolated but always has an object. My hope is…and you name what is your hope. Part of our answer is found in the context of “Scripture interprets Scripture”.
The previous verses 1 and 2 of chapter 5 reveals, “having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Now we see the true object of hope that never disappoints. It is not hope in our plans but a sure hope in the plan God made through Jesus Christ that we have peace with God and that sure peace is what brings glory and honor to the triune God.
The Law accuses us of not trusting God when our personal hopes and plans do not come to fruition. But the Gospel is the good news that regardless of our personal unfulfilled hopes, the fact that God is at peace with us is always true. The Law accuses us of depending on our experience as evidence that God is at peace with us and unfortunately, the evidence often is not evident.
However, the Word of God assures us that regardless of our circumstances, God is at peace with us because of the blood-bought sacrifice of our LORD Jesus Christ. For He did what you and I are unable to do. He paid the punishment of the curse of the Law so that while God holds us responsible for our sins, He no longer holds us accountable for the punishment of those same sins. That is the hope we have and it is a certain and sure hope.
Name:Tom Baker